[…] We have already observed that to verify a dimensionally consistent statement between dimensionful quantities, it suffices to do so for a single choice of the dimension parameters ; one can view this as being analogous to the transfer principle in nonstandard analysis, relating dimensionful mathematics with dimensionless mathematics. Thus, for instance, if have the units of , , and respectively, then to verify the dimensionally consistent identity , it suffices to do so for a single choice of units . For instance, one can choose a set of units (such as Planck units) for which the speed of light becomes , in which case the dimensionally consistent identity simplifies to the dimensionally inconsistent identity . Note that once we sacrifice dimensional consistency, though, we cannot then transfer back to the dimensionful setting; the identity does not hold for all choices of units, only the special choice of units for which . So we see a tradeoff between the freedom to vary units, and the freedom to work with dimensionally inconsistent equations; one can spend one freedom for another, but one cannot have both at the same time. (This is closely related to the concept of spending symmetry, which I discuss for instance in this post (or in Section 2.1 of this book).) […]

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